Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Sergei Gonchar will have arthroscopic surgery on his dislocated left shoulder Thursday and miss four to six months of the season.

Gonchar, one of the NHL’s top offensive defensemen, has cartilage and ligament damage and had hoped to avoid surgery. He was hurt during a hit by David Koci in an exhibition game against Tampa Bay on Sept. 20. He could be out until March, which would sideline him for most of the season.

“It is always difficult to lose a very talented player and leader for an extended period of time, but we all believe this is the best decision for Sergei,” general manager Ray Shero said Tuesday in a statement.

Surgery sidelines Gaustad: Sabres center Paul Gaustad will miss up to the first three weeks of the regular season after he had surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb.

Gaustad, entering his fourth NHL season, was hurt during a fight in Buffalo’s 2-1 shootout loss to the Wild on Sunday. He had one goal in two games this preseason.

Briefly: The Los Angeles Kings acquired former Wild defenseman Sean O’Donnell from the Anaheim Ducks, receiving a conditional selection in the 2009 NHL draft in return.

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